Sunday Afternoon Laurus nobilis

That’s bay laurel to you.

So my MIL has a bay tree. A big one. So it was that one day, she gave me a gallon and a half of dried bay laurel leaves (and three more gallons of other herbs from her garden!).

I thought to myself, “Self, what ARE you going to do with all those? You cook a lot, but not nearly THAT much.”

And so I made a wreath.

It was one of those lazy Sunday evenings. The day was nearly done but it was not yet time to make dinner. I had reserved an hour or so to plant myself on the couch with some tea and a movie.

Supplies were simple. A green foam florist’s wreath, a thin needle, green thread, and some very tiny needle-like tacks.  And patience.

For an hour, it was (1) thread five leaves (2) tack to foam (3) repeat.

At the end the whole from was covered in a continuous stack of leaves, and I just tacked a few extra on the inside and outside to finish covering the foam.  Add a simple gingham ribbon for hanging, and there you go. Bay Laurel wreath for about $4.

Doesn’t Pottery Barn sell fresh versions of these things at the holidays for some ridiculous amount of money?

Did you know? Bay laurel wreaths, in the medieval period, were used in people’s houses because they were supposed to ward off evil. Pretty fancy. Bay laurel is really just a small evergreen tree, usually used decoratively in the Mediterranean places from which it hails. It’s also one of my favorite herbs, has various well-known symbolism, a common usage in architecture and a notable place in Greek history.  I also just learned it’s the 2009 Herb of the Year of the International Herb Association. I’ve read it has applications in witchcraft as well as in herbal medicine, but I’ve never tried.

I mostly think having a dried version around smells nice and looks pretty.

A miscellany

First, I’m going to say hi to my grandparents, which I’ve long been trying to remember to do. They get my blog via email now. That’s them! –>

My grandma, who I take after in many ways, is a crafter also, an acknowledged Master Sewer, the original baker of all the cookies I ever mention on here, a cook, gardener, and general inspiration for many of the things I try to do with my hands.  Hi Grandma! My grandpa was a farmer of various things - corn, soybeans, cattle - and provided me with my first summer cat and the youthfully fascinating opportunities of feeding  cows, mowing grass and weeding fields. No, seriously, to a suburban kid, that stuff was the Best Thing Ever.  Hi Grandpa!

Grandma may be chagrined that the picture of the farmstead on the wall behind her is crooked in this pic, but that’s the beloved Iowa farm of which I often speak, the place about which I have more fond and influential memories than anywhere else. You can’t see the farmhouse, it’s behind my grandma.

Second, I am going to show you what happens when I try to crochet on the couch.  I usually have a basket with a project next to me.  You can’t see it, but my flower afghan project, extra yarn, scissors (they’re closed), crochet hooks and all are under Callie.  Looks comfy, doesn’t it?  Good job, cat.

Speaking of rascally animals, a friend pointed out the Daily Coyote blog to me, which has eaten a lot of my time in the past couple of days between the story and the beautiful photography.  A woman in Wyoming had an infant coyote brought to her.  She named it Charlie and chose to keep it rather than let it be drowned.  That was about maybe 2 years ago.  The coyote and her cat, Eli, are silly and cute, and the glimpses into this woman’s interesting life are fun.  My favorite so far has been the story of the coyote (full grown at 30 pounds) getting up onto her kitchen counters, taking out the contents and piling them neatly in the middle of the floor, and turning on the water faucets.  Well, it is true that Native American mythology often portray the coyote as a trickster!

Ta for now!

Week’s End

Hope all of you in the US had a nice Thanksgiving. Jeff and I had a nice few days at his mom’s house. I cooked a bunch (acorn squash with mushroom sauce, red cabbage & cranberries), Jeff’s mom cooked (asparagus almondine, green bean casserole), Jeff made the potatoes.  It was a collaborative Thanksgiving, and quite tasty.  Friday was a little trying, as the catalytic converter in our car went out and a part had to be ordered.  We were notified of said problem when the Check Engine light came on while we were driving.  Oh no!

Since we weren’t sure what the problem was yet and didn’t want the engine to go kerflooey, we stopped at the only thing open - a nearby Wal-Mart to check on/procure motor oil.  Unfortunately, we ran smack into an enormous, rude, overexcited crowd in a mass purchasing mood while there.  I thought it might take a couple of hours to buy a simple quart of oil.  At least that wasn’t the Wal-Mart where a store worker was trampled to death by a frenzied 5 a.m. crowd. That was a horrifying story, and makes me feel ill. I can’t believe shopping and “deals” would be so important that all other considerations and even basic humanity are discarded.

We returned from his mom’s with food and household product goodies. I was quite excited that she gave us a set of dishes - Corelle/Pyrex from the 60s/70s in the Crazy Daisy pattern (aka Spring Blossom Green, Daisy Flowers, or Daisies).  Jeff’s grandmother had (to put it mildly) a thing for dishes and cookware, and this was just one of many sets of things that have been brought to the light of day. I really love these sorts of collector patterns from that era.  I might be a little mod at heart. There are lots of pieces in great condition.  Oh! And bakeware!  I’m in heaven.

Additionally, on Saturday Jeff and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary!  Pretty darn awesome.